Kerala

Tourist Places in Kerala

Kerala is a prosperous state of India, a treasure trove of the enchanting beauty of the nature. The land’s beauty comes from its coconut groves and paddy fields, wide beaches and emerald backwaters, verdant hills and rain forests and the architectural monuments.

Percentage of area of the State to the area of Indian Union : 1.18.
Highest peak : Anamudi peak (2269 m)
No of rivers : 44
No of Districts : 14
No of Taluks : 63
No of Municipal corporations : 5

Language

Kerala (Malayalam: Kēraḷaṁ) is a state located in southwestern India. Neighbouring states include Karnataka to the north and Tamil Nadu to the south and east, and the Arabian sea is to the west. Major cities include the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi , Kollam , Palakkad , Thrissur and Kozhikode. Malayalam is the principal spoken language.

Malayalam is the main language of Kerala. Malayalam is a combination of two words, mala (meaning mountain) and alam (meaning the Azhi/sea). Malayalam belongs to the Dravidian family of languages, but there is considerable difference of opinion about the exact nature of its relationship with the other languages of the Dravidian stock. It is the official language of Kerala. Malayalam also contains many Portuguese, Dutch, English, Arabic, Marathi, Sanskrit and Persian words.

Kerala is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. To its east and northeast, Kerala borders Tamil Nadu and Karnataka respectively; to its west and south lie the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean with the islands of Lakshadweep and the Maldives, respectively. Kerala envelops Mahé, a coastal exclave of Pondicherry. Kerala is one of the four states of South India.

First settled in the 10th century BC by speakers of Proto-South Dravidian, Kerala was influenced by the Mauryan Empire. Later, the Cheran kingdom and feudal Namboothiri Brahminical city-states became major powers in the region. Early contact with overseas lands culminated in struggles between colonial and native powers. The States Reorganisation Act of November 1, 1956 elevated Kerala to statehood. Social reforms enacted in the late 19th century by Cochin and Travancore were expanded upon by post-Independence governments, making Kerala among the Third World's longest-lived, healthiest, most gender-equitable, and most literate regions. However, Kerala's suicide, alcoholism, and unemployment rates rank among India's highest. A survey conducted in 2005 by Transparency International ranked Kerala as the least corrupt state in the country.

The etymology of Kerala is widely disputed, and is a matter of conjecture. A prevailing theory states that it is an imperfect Malayalam portmanteau that fuses kera ('coconut palm tree') and alam ('land' or 'location' or 'abode of'). Another version is that the name is originated from the phrase chera alam (Land of the Chera). Natives of Kerala — Keralites — thus refer to their land as Keralam. Kerala's tourism industry, among others, also use the phrase 'God's own country'.

Colourful Kerala is an enchanting kleidoscope, full of breathtaking surprises. This fabled land is believed to have legendary origins. It is said that sage Parashuram, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was looking for a piece of virgin land to perform yagna (sacrifice), thus he threw his axe into the sea from Gokarna (near present day Mangalore) and the sea retreated, resulting in formation of the beautiful land of Kerala. The antiquity os the State can be traced as early as 5000 to 3000 BC. People have been sailing to Kerala in search of spices, sandalwood and ivory for at least 2000 years. The coasts of the State were known to the Phoenicians, Romans and later on to the Arabs and Chinese, long before Vasco Da Gama came to India. Christianity and Islam were introduced to Kerala much before the rest of India.

The influence of Kerala's trade links with far off nations and civilisations in still evident in its architectural styles and Chinese fishing nets. The State is an epitome of secularism and a masterpiece of unity in diversity. All the religious flourished side by side in the centuries that followed and the entire landscape is dotted with temples, churches, mosques and synagogues. The State has a reputation of imbibing anything new, but, also holding on to their rich traditions and culture. The people of Kerala are regarded as the most enterprising and industrious people in the country. Their substantial presence all over the world, especially in the Gulf countries has helped the country to earn valuable foreign exchange.

The land of lagoons and beaches invites you to discover the meaning of enchantment and is a made-to-order vacation paradise. It is studded with lively palm-fringed wide sandy beaches, limitless stretches of lush vegetation and mist shrouded mountains. A part from exotic scenery, Kerala unfolds a cultural canvas, fascinating in its variety. The frenzied tempo of snake boat races. The classical dignity of Kathakali. The lyrical beauty of Mohiniyattam. The satirical wit of Ottan Thullal. The controlled skill of Kalaripayattu and the exquisite workmanship of Kerala handicrafts. A visit to this tiny fertile friendly land will reveal a kaleidoscope of deep rooted cultures, traditions and delightful sensations. Though this land of rivers and backwaters, is busy raising valuable cash crops like tea. rubber, cardamom, coffee, and cashewnut, it still lives at the leisurely peace of ageless craft plying in canals and backwaters.